NAFLD Rates Prompt Concerns About Liver Health

Like the names for many medical conditions, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue. That’s why it’s often referred to as NAFLD, and it appears that we might be hearing more about it.

At the recent annual meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology, researchers from Loyola University reported that NAFLD rates are higher than expected among Americans. Data were collected from 20,000 adults ages 20 to 85 by looking for elevated aminotransferase levels (enzymes are measured through a blood test). Key points of the research were:

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-- A body mass index (BMI) that shows someone as obese is possibly a major risk factor.

Depending on whether “traditional” or “clinical” cutoffs were used, the prevalence of elevated aminotransferases was 15.4 percent and 39.3 percent, respectively, according to the Loyola report. A different study from the early 1990s found prevalence of NAFLD to be about 19 percent.

As defined by the Mayo Clinic, NAFLD is fat accumulation in the liver that is not related to alcohol consumption. That sets it apart from the kind of cirrhosis, or liver scarring, commonly seen in heavy drinkers.

In NAFLD, though, fat deposits can arise from obesity, diabetes or other conditions. The problem can escalate to become nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, leading to possible liver failure. The Mayo called NAFLD a growing problem and said it is currently the fastest-rising indicator for liver transplant.

Controlling NAFLD before it becomes severe is usually a matter of gradual and sustained weight loss, exercise and a healthy diet, the Mayo said.

A helpful page on the site of the American Liver Foundation spells out “Ways You Can Take Care of Your Liver.” The Foundation’s advice includes:

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